Hey folks - if you're planning a trip to Saskatoon anytime soon, make sure you bring a winter jacket and maybe some Yaktrax and/or a helmet - it's cold and slippery here in Toon town. That being said, Carl of The New Pornographers seemed to be enjoying himself immensely here tonight. He was all smiles and had nothing but compliments for the audience on their rhythmic handclaps and dancing. He even bestowed on the city the title of "best city on the tour so far"!

Novillero agreed. Compared to the slow trickle in of bodies last night in Regina, they played to a much busier crowd. Was Carl Newman a little tough on Regina tonight many of us asked? Well, he did say something like, "You guys are great and Regina sucks!" but then followed up with, "We're just kidding!"  I think he was playin' a bit, trying to stir up some good old fashioned city rivalry.

On another note, let me say this: it's been a really fun tour so far and one of the things that's been interesting for me is getting an opportunity to "break bread" or share a drink with the bands before or after the show and to get to know them a little bit beyond their life on the stage. Tonight I enjoyed a pre-show dinner with Kurt, Blaine and Katherine of The New Pornographers.

We talked about all kinds of things like dreams for example. It seems Blaine has the ability to remember his dreams when he wakes up so he makes a habit of writing them down. He also has New Pornographer dreams all the time in which the band is playing songs he doesn't know and he's trying to figure them out. Sounds like the scary waiter dreams I used to have. You know the ones I mean?

Later in the evening, I was sitting with the guys from Novillero and we started singing songs from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. I love that musical! (I was Judas when I was in grade 11 and I still remember all the words!). We started singing the one that goes "Everything's all right dear, everything's fine...." and Sean explained that they've actually performed that song live with one of the members of the band Nathan and that there's a live recording of it out there. Then things went up a notch. What if we get Katherine to sing the song and we could do it live for the next few shows? That was the idea being tossed around by the guys, for a few minutes anyway. The last I heard, they were going to talk to Katherine about it. Then talk shifted to something else musical.

So, will Katherine Caldor of Immaculate Machine and The New Pornographers sing a duet with Novillero? Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the Mint! Exclaim Roadshow! as it makes its way to the City of Champions. See you in Edmonton friends.